Thursday, January 19, 2006

THREE POEMS by Regina DerievaTranslated from the Russian by Frederick SmockFrom IMAGES IN BLACK, CONTINUOUS Black Mirror1Polish a piece of hematite,and the black mirror that emergesmirrors the windowfrom which each Chinese emperor watched,as he borrowed the throne.2Polish a piece of hematiteinto a black mirrorby which widowsof Chinese emperors watched,as they borrowed the thrones.From UNCONDITIONAL RELIANCEA Difference of PerceptionAfter a number of yearsit's not so good to seeand hear. This is not a surprise.I look on the worldthrough the eyes of others,I listen to the worldthrough the ears of others,repeating all the time my question.I'm asking those around meto explain this or that stain,and to greet someone on my behalf.In addition,I force myself to not answer lettersand to not answer the telephone.One names my conditionas boorishness, another as wisdom. Second-HandBuying second-hand clothesis easy and convenient.You are not responsible for them,since they already had an owner,who did with them what he wanted.These clothes always go out of fashion.But here's an articlewhose price is a bargain:having a previous smell,and a previous mood,this clothing in essence has died,but has not turned to tatters,having been renewed,having been filled by others,having been forced to live.As new emigrants are forced to live,a very old Syrian womanlookingafter their children.Regina Derieva (1949) has published twenty books of poetry, essays, and prose. Her books in translation include Alien Matter (Spuyten Duyvil, 2005). Derieva's work has appeared in Modern Poetry in Translation, Poetry East, Ars Interpres, Salt, Projected Letters, Notre Dame Review as well as in many Russian magazines. Regina currently lives in Sweden.Frederick Smock is poet-in-residence at Bellarmine University. He has published three books of poems with Larkspur Press. The Iowa Review,Poetry, Shenandoah, The Southern Review, and The International Quarterly are among the many American journals to have published his poetry. His newest book, Poetry & Compassion: Essays on Art & Craft, is forthcoming this spring.